By Ashley Haustein
Like many 30-year-olds, I grew up loving Harry Potter. The magical Hogwarts castle, professors who could turn into cats, and flying broomsticks captured me in a way no other story did.
Last summer, my book club decided to put a “pause” on reading books written for adults and to read (re-read for most) the Harry Potter series instead. I picked up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone expecting to enjoy it, but not be blown away. What actually happened… I couldn’t put the books down. I spent every free moment reading at the pool or on my patio, tearing through all seven books in the series.
When I finished the last page of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the only word I could use to describe the books was Masterpiece.
J.K. Rowling brings the characters and magical world to life with such mastery – it’s incredible. But what struck me the most about reading these books as an adult is that Rowling writes about themes that both adults and children can learn from.
Seven is an important number in the Harry Potter series. Here are seven of the lessons these “children’s books” taught me as a 30-year-old adult.
- It’s important to have a few friends you can count on, no matter what. Harry might be the title character, but Hermione and Ron are heroes, too.
- First dates can be awkward, even if you’re the Chosen One. See: Harry and Cho at Madam Puddifoot’s.
- A mentor teaches us, helps us grow, and empowers us to be braver than we ever thought possible. Dumbledore wasn’t perfect – but his belief in Harry helped Harry believe in himself.
- Home isn’t always the place we grew up. Home is wherever you get that warm feeling of comfort and love.
- Things are not always as they appear. This doesn’t apply just in Transfiguration class with McGonagall. It applies to people too – like Snape.
- The ones we love never really leave us, even after death. Lily, James, Sirius, Lupin and more. The love they gave Harry and the lessons they taught Harry formed him into the hero he became.
- Magic is real. ⚡
I’m encouraging all my friends and family to re-read the Harry Potter books. Heck, I even hassled my grandma into reading them for the first time.
I encourage YOU to pick up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone from your bookshelf, wipe off the dust, and allow yourself to experience the magical world once more. Lumos!
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